You're a dollar late and a day short with that comment, but I guess you're right, it's what everyone uses. I still can't help but think that someone would have invented a better mouse trap as even the professionals can't seem to get it right all the time. I wish I had taken some pictures of the fawked up jobs I've seen. Wires budging out and only half on the screw. Nick galore from where they tried to squeeze together after the fact. Ok, back to your cows.
Electrician tools
- Thread starter 472scout
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Fyrme
Well-known member
Well I knew that it had been covered but I was mostly making a point that I guess not everyone could appreciate. As an electrician of 18 years, I've learned you can do most simple jobs with 4 tools in your back pocket. A phillips head, a flat head, a voltage tester "hot stick" and a pair of needle nose with the 12ga stripper in the cutting teeth.
I don't want to beat a dead horse here but I'm glad you were guided in the right direction on the proper way to wire a receptacle. I can't tell you how many times I pulled a recept out of the wall to have a wire pop out of the back. No flaming me on this one, but I work things hot sometimes and it's enough to piss you off when that happens.
rlitman
Well-known member
>I've learned you can do most simple jobs with 4 tools in your back pocket. A phillips head, a flat head, a voltage tester "hot stick" and a pair of needle nose with the 12ga stripper in the cutting teeth.
Well said. For me, that's a 6-in-one, a set of linesman pliers, and a tester.
Well said. For me, that's a 6-in-one, a set of linesman pliers, and a tester.
GortonsFisherman
Well-known member
How gracious.
Fyrme
Well-known member
98% of my experience is commercial and 50% of that is critical systems related. ie: hospitals, industrial, etc... There are times that working equipment hot is not an option is is a necessity. Wearing the proper gear, it can be done safely. Tell all the power company linesmen out there that they need to turn it off or leave. You will be laughed off the street. No that does now excuse me for working a hot recept in a house, but after doing it in hospitals for so long, it's just second nature. It's 120v's, yes enough to kill you but 99% of the time, just enough to piss you off. RARELY though, will you see me working any high voltage hot. I have witnessed what it can do.
Fyrme
Well-known member
Yes there are OSHA provisions, and I'm sure you can imagine how unbelievably unrealistic they are.
andywander
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Most wire strippers will have a hole in the jaw. Poke the wire through the hole, bend it around the jaw, and there is your wire all formed for the screw.
andywander
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Why are they, then, made with 2 holes per terminal?
Milton Shaw
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A couple of new items I have seen recently. Milwaukee is making screwdriver bits for electrical screws. They are combo square and slot screw bit. Comes in two sizes and really make a difference on the stupid screws that are used on neutral bars in electrical boxes, but all fit really nice on screws on outlets etc. Ideal makes a pair of screwdrivers that the hole in the end of the handle fits all sizes of wire nuts to give you a better grip on really tightening them down. Home Depot carries the bits but I have only found the Ideal screwdrivers at electronic speciality places.
andywander
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After you get the wire around the screw, hold the wire end with your screwdriver, and twist the wire around the screw.
Hard to describe, but it works well. you are using the screwdriver as a lever to bend the wire into more of a complete circle.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Is there a specialty tool for twisting wires to fit on a screw?
Yeah, needle nose.
but they do make these
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/klein-tools-2-wire-bend-phillips-screwdriver-603-4b.html#.ULgbZIYR-SoSNIP
Wire forming pliers is the better way. resemble needle nose, but have tapering round jaws; grab the tip of the wire and twist. the six of the loop is dependent on where on the jaws toy grab it with, (hence the tapered jaws)
Someone asked how to get a full wind on the screw? Not needed but leave a small tag end when forming to a "U" after you get it in place use the tips of the wire formers to close it. (the next guy in will curse you...)
on the plug in tester cheap and effective.
Simple way to avoid issues on regular 120 V circuits: White wire to silver screw, black to gold, and green to ground.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
When Pig-tailing, is there a trick to get the wire nut to grab all 3 wires tightly?
Red nuts don't seem to want to thread onto "all 3 twisted" either
I seem to get a loose connection occasionally when doing this
The trick is to use lineman's pliers and twist the 3 wire together FIRST, then trim to length (cutting off the buggered tips), and then wire nut it.
If you don't twist them you don't get the "solder-less hermetic connection" that they talk about.